Great Valentine's Day Meal Ideas

The most common activity couples participate in on Valentine's Day is dinning. Usually it is dinner and then some sort of activity that follows, such as the movies, the theater or whatever else there may be to participate in where you live. But why share a crowded restaurant with all of those other couples when you can enjoy each other's company in the quietness of your own home with a specially prepared meal? The only question is what do you prepare?

*Elegant*

Rumor has it that Lobster will enhance the romantic (and hormonal) feelings that people have for each other so why not serve it on Valentine's Day. To begin, purchase and prepare two lobster tails as the main course of your meal. Buy the lobster tails from the meat department of your grocery store or local butcher. This way you have the option to only buy two instead of having to buy a whole bag of frozen tails.

Also the butcher can recommend the best way to prepare the tails according to what type of lobster it is. Generally, lobster is boiled until the tails turn bright red (hint: insert a skewer stick the length of the lobster to keep it from curling when it is cooked).

Pair the lobster tails with a raspberry green salad and rosemary roasted potatoes.

*Italian*

"Amore" is best said with Italian food. But, instead of regular pasta with marinara, try fettuccini alfredo for Valentines Day. It is extremely easy and quick to make, just prepare the fettuccini like any other pasta and pour a jar of alfredo sauce in a sauce pan to warm up

(Hint: alfredo sauce is made with cream so heat it up slowly. It will burn if you turn up the heat on it too fast.)

Pair your pasta with fresh parmesan bread from the oven and a green salad drizzled with a vinaigrette dressing.

*BBQ*

For some there is nothing more romantic then a BBQ meal eaten outside on the deck illuminated only by candlelight. Select two good Ribeye steak cuts from the meat department and prepare in the way you prefer (medium, well done or rare).

Pair with vegetable kabobs and garlic bread, both of which can be prepared on the grill with the steaks.

*Desserts*

To add the finishing touch to your perfect Valentines Day meal include some kind of chocolate dessert accented with fruit. Chocolate covered strawberries are a Valentine's Day favorite for dessert and are easy to make. Chocolate brownies topped with whipped cream and raspberries are another good pairing for dessert especially with the lobster tails.

The most romantic dessert that you can make for you and your partner though, is the first dessert that you can remember that you shared together. This may mean that you eat dinner at home and then go out for dessert later if your first dessert together was at a restaurant. By the time you go out for dessert all of the other couples that went out for dinner should have finished by then giving you the best of both a homemade dinner and still going out.